2 years of practice; WTF
Would you agree that most humans are creatures of habit, routine, and comfort? For some, we fray off the scale of the relative ‘norm’, a more rare case to say the least. The majority of us tend to do pretty much the same thing each day. Monday to Sunday with little change; work, then sit in front of a computer screen or TV. Maybe do the same style of movements for your more ‘hands on’ job. Attempt to get to the gym a few times a week 7 times a week…or none. Need I even mention if we add kids into the mix of this, what that does to personal time. In the next few paragraphs, I’ll briefly describe a few of the most common things I’ve found in clients, working as a Massage therapist both in a Spa type setting and a sports clinic type setting.
First things first. Desk jobs. Do you sit in front of a screen anywhere from 5-12 hours a day? Might even be 2, or 3 screens! Do you ever feel like you have some low back pain? How about headaches? Either temporal, base of your neck or a full migraine? Perhaps you’re feeling some weird numbness and tingling sensations in your hands once in a while? This is all relatively normal for most people that work behind a desk for long hours. Another question to ask is, what are your desk ergonomics like? Do you sit the whole time? Is your chair a cheap bar stool or dining chair? Do you have a proper ergonomic computer chair?
All of this plays a significant factor to how your body looks when you come in for a treatment as well as how it will respond the first few visits. Your shoulders may be rounded. Your hamstrings are likely tight. Your chest and biceps are usually tight. Likely more so to the one that moves the mouse once in a while throughout the day. Your hip flexors may not be overly happy with you either. Your neck and shoulders can sometimes feel like rock or very tight ropey bands too. I feel your pain! I know it sucks nor is it a fun time.
This is one of the most common and unfortunate cases I see. It’s upsetting and sad when I have people come in and they are genuinely in a lot of pain, seriously stressed and don’t know what to do to help their situation. Coming in for massage, chiro, physio or to see a naturopath was that first very important step. I am genuinely here to help and will always do everything I possibly can in each treatment!
Clients that continue to come in following a treatment plan and put in some work, usually see and feel results within 2 or 3 treatments. In turn, feeling significantly better each day! Getting results in each case, especially from clients that come in with substantial amounts of pain is the best part about this job.
Moving forward from desk jobs. Lets switch right on over to athletes. Sometimes the factors here are extremely repetitive stresses. Overworked muscle tissue. Improper postures, dynamics and muscle firing sequences. Athletes certainly don’t always have the right answer, nor do they keep their bodies in the best state at all times. Are the number of issues usually less? Yes. Are they usually more willing to put in the work needed to get better? Yes. With athletes, usually comes more of a collaborative effort requirement from multiple medical practices. Physio, Chiropractic, Massage. I’ll be the first to tell you, massage is NOT always the only answer to the problem. No matter what the problem, there is always multiple aspects required to “get better”.
Some of the most common issues in athletes, of course, it depends on the sport; but they are, joint issues, muscle strains, ligament sprains, muscles not firing the way they should be, muscle tone imbalances. These are just some of the most common things I’ve seen. The path to recovery for most athletes however, usually takes less time then people who aren’t physically active.
There is most definitely a common trend in people who are physically active more often. Their muscle tissue responds better, quicker and usually with less post treatment soreness. With athletes, it’s usually figuring out the imbalances and sometimes wrong technique or form. Each treatment is mostly to keep athletes continuously capable of doing what they do, each day with the least amount of pain as possible. Whether you currently aren’t working out at all, or you workout everyday.
The most common thing I’ve found that benefits each person is; put in the work to the counteracting muscles you’re using everyday at work, within your practice, trade, or sport. Having an overall body mobility and strength is the key to body mind ease and longevity. There will always be things that come up and create pain or discomfort. We all have to wake up each day, move our bodies when needed. Rest them when needed. Take it easy when needed. Push ourselves to our limits every once in a while as well, just to keep our bodies functioning in the way they are capable of. Do what we can today, so we can do more the next, and maintain that as long as possible. Stay ‘Pro Active’.
Nathan Merritt
RMT